What is home automation?

 

Home automation gives you full control of your home at your fingertips.

Regardless of what you might've seen in horror movies, a living automated home, provided that it's designed right, is often far safer and more efficient than a regular home. The term 'home automation' refers to connecting different devices in your home, such as lighting, entertainment and security components, into a set of master controls that can automatically control them to alter the environment in your home.

Another advantage of home automation is that's also capable, by carefully monitoring and managing many different appliances at once, of helping you to reduce your energy consumption. With home automation, everything can work in harmony to make your home as comfortable, secure and efficient as it can be, with as little effort required as possible.

Why choose home automation?

People choose to automate their homes for a variety of reasons, and not everyone is going to want the same thing or the same smart home. Automating aspects of your home can make it far more energy efficient, secure, comfortable or convenient - and these are the key reasons that people invest in home automation. Depending on how extensively you intend to automate your home, you may well benefit in all of these areas.

Types of home automation

Security

Various aspects of your home can be automated to increase its security. With the installation of movement sensors outside your home or intrusion sensors on doors and windows, you can detect and discourage unexpected movements or intrusions. Automated security systems can even record intruders, and send images or video of them to your email, smartphone or to a security service in real-time.

Lighting

With automated lighting controls, movement sensors can detect when someone enters a room and flick the lights on, while timers can ensure they turn off again after a period of inactivity. Automated lighting systems can also incorporate curtain controls and change according to the time of day. They can also adjust lighting schemes or intensity based on your activities or mood.

 
Climate control

Sensors are a great way to ensure proper ventilation in your home. Climate in your home can be very carefully controlled by zone-based heating and cooling, which will ensure that appropriate temperatures are maintained in different parts of your home, regardless of outside influences like sunlight or windows. By mastering your curtain and window systems, you can also help decrease your energy consumption, increase your ventilation and improve your health.

Entertainment

Although some people might argue that a living house is entertainment in itself, automated entertainment systems can ensure that you are properly welcomed into your home after a hard day's work. Lighting systems can dim as you turn the TV on, and audio can be installed into multiple rooms in the house, allowing you to listen to whatever you want from anywhere.

Energy efficiency

Implementing timers, sensors, energy dashboards and smart meters can help you to ensure that you are only using electricity when it actually need to be used. Not only does this cut the cost of your energy wastage, but it can also help to significantly cut the cost of your power bills.

Types of home automation systems

There are many technologies you can used to help automate your home, including timers, sensors, controls and smart meters. While some allow your home to change its 'mood' at any programmed time or event, others allow for maximum energy efficiency by controlling when your appliances turn themselves on and off.

Most home automation systems rely on a single house-wide control system to operate everything. Such systems include things like C-Bus, KNX, Z-Wave and Zigbee. These control systems work in different ways, but all provide a 'standard' protocol, or language, which is used to help manage your home.

Home automation systems are normally either wired or wireless - the choice you make between the two will depend largely on cost, whether you're retrofitting a system or building afresh, and what your automation needs are.  

How much does home automation cost?

With any smart home, scope and cost will vary depending on what you want it to do. A basic C-Bus system will cost about $15,000, plus installation. However if you want a fully automated and integrated system that includes extensive security, lighting, entertainment and control features, a high quality system may even cost between $50,000 and $100,000. Having the system installed as the home is built will cut down on labour costs and help to reduce your final bill.